Michigan State's Miles Bridges (22) pulls down a rebound against Savannah State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)(Photo: The Associated Press)

Coupled with No. 1 Villanova’s loss to Butler on Saturday night, the Spartans (14-1) are expected to claim the top spot in the AP and coaches polls,

The Spartans had six players score in double-digits and set a few other career marks, along with a team record by scoring more than 100 points for the fourth straight game. According to ESPN Stats and Info, MSU is the first men's Division I team with four straight 100-point games since Virginia Military Institute in 2006-07.

Miles Bridges added 19 points and grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds, the most by a Spartan since Greg Kelser's 27 on Jan. 3, 1976 against Wisconsin. His 19 defensive rebounds broke the school record set by fellow Flintstone Antonio Smith against Indiana on March 8, 1997.

Point guard Cassius Winston finished with 16 points and a career-high 13 assists. MSU’s 35 assists were one short of tying a school record.

Ward finished 9 of 9 shooting and has made 32 of 34 shots in the last four games. Matt McQuaid scored 14 points, Joshua Langford 11 and Jaren Jackson Jr. 10 points as the Spartans shot 62.9 percent. It was their fourth straight game making better than 60 percent.

“Everybody is contributing,” Winston said. “This is that time of the year where everybody gets better individually, and that kind of helps as a whole.”

MSU, which is 2-0 in the Big Ten, resumes conference play on Thursday when it hosts Maryland (8 p.m., Fox Sports 1). The Terrapins (12-3, 1-1) have lost forwards Justin Jackson (shoulder) and Ivan Bender (knee) for the rest of the season.

“The next couple games are gonna be a lot different than these last four,” Izzo said. “But they aren’t gonna be any different than the six or seven we played earlier in the year, either.”

Izzo warned his team about two things Savannah State (3-12) has done a lot of this season – shooting 3-pointers and creating turnovers. The Tigers entered Sunday leading Division I with 563 3-point attempts and eighth in the nation at 18.64 turnovers forced per game.

The Spartans committed 11 turnovers and allowed eight Savannah State 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes, with the Tigers taking a 23-22 lead near the midpoint of the half.

But MSU righted things, holding Savannah State without a 3-pointer for the final 6:22 of the first half and just two more the entire second half. MSU also committed just one turnover in the final 8-plus minutes of the opening period and finished with 17.

The Spartans pulled away with a 14-2 run to close the half and then the first five points of the second. It got ugly after that, as MSU outscored the Tigers, 57-14, in the final half, holding them scoreless over the final 8:58 of the game while closing on a 32-0 run to sprint into the new year.

Which the Spartans could ring in as No. 1.

“It really doesn’t matter until we’re the No. 1 team in the end,” Bridges said. “It’s gonna put a big bull’s-eye on our back, and it’s gonna challenge us throughout the year. If we’re able to take it, then we can go a long way.”

Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) lays the ball up against the Savannah State Tigers during the first half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Dec 31, 2017; East Lansing, MI
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) calls for the ball against the Savannah State Tigers during the first half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Dec 31, 2017; East Lansing, MI
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) gestures from the bench during the first half of a game against the Savannah State Tigers at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Dec 31, 2017; East Lansing, MI
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Savannah State Tigers guard Dexter McClanahan (22) passes the ball during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.Dec 31, 2017; East Lansing, MI
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Savannah State Tigers guard Austin Dasent (1) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Dec 31, 2017; East Lansing, MI
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Savannah State Tigers head coach Horace Broadnax gestures from the bench during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Dec 31, 2017; East Lansing, MI
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